Downtown & the Gulch
This monumental museum, reflecting the near-biblical importance of country music to Nashville's soul, is a must-see whether you're a country music fan or…
Historic RCA Studio B
Nashville
One of Music Row's most historic studios, this is where Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton all recorded numerous hits. The latter did a little…
Nashville
Cheekwood is a botanical garden with an arty inclination, just southwest of downtown Nashville. The numerous gardens combine themes (Japanese, water,…
Natchez Trace Parkway
Nashville
A beautiful day trip or extended road trip from Nashville, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs for 444 miles through three states until reaching its eponymous…
National Museum of African American Music
Nashville
The National Museum of African American Music tells the story of the impact that African American culture has had on music around the world, from gospel to…
Grand Ole Opry House
Nashville
This unassuming modern brick building seats 4400 for the Grand Ole Opry multiple times per week. Daytime backstage guided tours are offered every 15…
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge
Nashville
For a photogenic view of this graceful double-arch bridge, pull into the Birdsong Hollow overlook, about 4 miles south of the northern terminus of the…
Cumberland Park
Downtown & the Gulch
This 6.5-acre park hugs the Cumberland River's eastern bank across from downtown. For kids, there's a climbing wall and an innovative washboard play area…
Warner Parks
Nashville
Opened in 1927 and named after two local park commissioners, Percy (the larger) and Edwin (the smaller) Warner Parks are where Nashvillians come to enjoy…
Nashville Public Library – Downtown
Downtown & the Gulch
For an excellent overview of the Civil Rights movement in Nashville, check out the Civil Rights Collection, a permanent exhibit in the 2nd-floor galleries…
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
Nashville
The former home of seventh president Andrew Jackson lies 15 miles east of downtown. The sprawling, well-kept grounds of this 1150-acre site offer a peek…
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Nashville
Mammals chill out along the grassy Savannah Loop and the bamboo-filled Jungle Loop, and amphibians get their own special house. We're partial to the…
Frist Art Museum
Downtown & the Gulch
A top-notch post office turned art museum and complex, hosting traveling exhibitions of everything from American folk art to Picasso, and as off-the-wall…
Radnor Lake State Park
Nashville
It's hard to imagine that this beautiful lake is artificial, but so it is, built by a railway company in 1914 and handed over to public use in 1973. These…
Parthenon
Nashville
Built in 1897 to celebrate the state of Tennessee's centenary, Nashville's Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the Ancient Greece original, with a jaw…
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Downtown & the Gulch
For a photogenic view of Nashville's skyline, stroll to the middle of this lovely truss bridge across the Cumberland River. Seigenthaler, longtime editor…
Fontanel Mansion
Nashville
Don't be surprised if your tour guide strums an original song on his or her guitar while you explore Fontanel Mansion, the former home of country-music…
5th Ave of the Arts
Downtown & the Gulch
Home to several visual art galleries, Nashville’s premier art district is just a quick walk up from the honky-tonks on Broadway. This historic block is…
Belmont Mansion
Nashville
The story of Belmont Mansion is the story of Adelicia Acklen, a Nashville socialite turned savvy businesswoman. One maneuver of note? Asking her second…
Nashville
Tours of this historic house, which dates from 1799, tell the story of John Overton, a Tennessee attorney, judge and businessman who also founded Memphis…
Two Rivers Park
Nashville
For outdoor recreation near Opryland, head to this 374-acre park beside the Cumberland River. Kids can splash around in Wave Country or roll around the…
Riverfront Park
Downtown & the Gulch
This narrow park sits between downtown and the Cumberland River. Take your pooch for a romp in the dog park, have a picnic as you watch the barges from…
Bells Bend Park
Nashville
This bucolic park sits within a bend in the Cumberland River. Fifteen miles west of downtown, the 808-acre park has a tranquil beauty well suited to those…
Elephant Gallery
Nashville
Walking into this gallery is a bit like walking into a fever dream. Opened in 2016, the space hosts primarily (but not exclusively) local artists, and…
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Downtown & the Gulch
Fronted by six majestic pillars, this grand neoclassic concert hall was completed in 2006 at a cost of $123.5 million. It hosts the Nashville Symphony as…
Centennial Park
Nashville
An easy 1-mile trail loops around a lake in this lovely 132-acre park, with the Parthenon anchoring the western horizon. Vast lawns beg for picnics while…
Percy Priest Lake
Nashville
What's 42 miles long and the closest thing Nashville has to a beach resort? Percy Priest Lake. Just a 15-minute drive east of the city, this huge,…
Tennessee State Museum
Downtown & the Gulch
This engaging museum, which moved into spiffy new digs in 2018, offers a worthy, balanced look at the state's past, with Native American handicrafts,…
Vanderbilt University
Nashville
This prestigious university was founded in 1833 by railway magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 330-acre campus buzzes with about 12,000 students on lush and…
Fannie Mae Dees Park
Nashville
A colorful dragon sculpture lurks in the heart of this busy park, luring hordes of small children eager to scramble over its serpentine back. There's also…
Downtown & the Gulch
Nashville's museum dedicated to 'The Man in Black' is smallish but houses the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in…
Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge
East Nashville
Open to pedestrians and cyclists, this sturdy bridge links Shelby Bottoms Park and its greenway with Two Rivers Park and the Stones River greenway. It's a…
Jefferson Street Sound
Nashville
Musicians like Muddy Waters, Etta James and Jimi Hendrix all played in clubs on Jefferson St, the heart of the city's Black community during segregation…
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center
East Nashville
For a primer on the flora and fauna that live in East Nashville's green spaces, head to this park facility, which features a range of displays and free…
The Nations Silo
Nashville
Artist Guido van Helten painted this 15-story lifelike image of longtime Nations resident Lee Estes, who has lived in this neighborhood since the late…
Fatherland District Mural
East Nashville
This colorful mural celebrates the Fatherland District shopping area. It's one of several murals place-marking neighborhoods and shopping districts in…
Red Arrow Gallery
East Nashville
Featuring early and mid-career artists, this small gallery has a laser focus on Nashville's developing art scene.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall
Downtown & the Gulch
Downtown Nashville's 19-acre green lung swoops grandly north from the Tennessee State Capitol, giving unparalleled (and much televised) views of its white…
Belle Meade Plantation
Nashville
The Harding-Jackson family purchased enslaved people to build a cotton gin, gristmill and sawmill along the Natchez road in the early 1800s. These…
